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CQEOUGHT OEPOSm 



A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT 

OF THE 

CATHOLIC 
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 

OF THE 

ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK. 



BY THE 

Rev. M. J. CONSIDINE, 

Inspector of Parochial Schools. 



NEW YORK. CINCINNATI, CHICAGO: 

Benziger Brothers 

Printers to the Holy Apostolic See. 
]S94. 



A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT 






CATHOLIC 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 



ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK. 




^tY THE 

Rev. M. J. CONSIDINE, 

Inspector of Parochial Schools. 



'MAY 1^1894^.; 



NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO : 

Bknziger Broxhers, 

Printers to the Holy Apostolic See. 
1894. 



■W s C-] 



Copyright, 1894, by Benziger Brothers. 



V 



N. Y. DIOCESAN BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF TEACHERS, 1894. 

President, .... Right Rev. John M. Farley, V.G., M.R. 

Secretary Rev. John J. Kean, M.R. 

Treasurer, .... Rev. Chas. H. Colton. 

Rev. John Edwards, M.R. Rev. M. C. O'Farrell. 

Rev. Anthony Kesseler. Rev. M. J. Lavelle. 

Rev. A. B. Schwenniger. Rev. P. W. Tandy. 

Rev. N. J. Hughes, M.R. Rev. Chas. R. Corley, M.R. 



N. Y. DIOCESAN BOARD OF SCHOOL EXAMINERS, 1894. 

President, Very Rev. Joseph F. Mooney, V.G. and Chancellor. 
Secretary, Rev. John J. Kean, M.R. 
Treasurer, Rev. Chas. H. Colton. 

Rev. P. F. McSweeny, S.T.D., M.R. Rev. James Dougherty, S.T.D. 
Rev. Gabriel A. Healy. Rev. M. J. Lavelle. 

Rev. M. C. O'Farrell. Rev. Thos. McMillan, C.S.P. 

Rev. N. J. Hughes, M.R. Rev. A. B. Schwenniger. 

Rev. T. F. Lynch, M.R. Rev. Chas. R. Corley, M.R. 

Rev. M. A. Nolan. Rev. A. A. Lings. 

Rev. John McQuirk, S.T.D., LL.D. Rev. John B. Young, S.J. 
Rev. Charles Sigl, C.SS.R. 

Inspector of Schools Rev. M. J. Considine. 



N. Y. DIOCESAN BOARD OF SCHOOL EXAMINERS rTS94), FOR 
WESTCHESTER, PUTNAM, AND DUTCHESS COUNTIES. 

Very Rev. Edward McKenna, V.F. Rev. G. Bruder. 

Rev. Jos. P. Egan. 



N. Y. DIOCESAN BOARD OF SCHOOL EXAMINERS (1S94), FOR 
ORANGE AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES. 

Very Rev. W. L. Penny, V. F. Rev. J. P. McClancy. 

Rev. Jas. L. Crosby. 



N. Y. DIOCESAN BOARD OF SCHOOL EXAMINERS (1S94), FOR 
ULSTER AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES. 

Very Rev. Edwin M. Sweeny, V. F. Rev. R. Lalor Burtsell, S.T.D. 
Rev. M. Kuhnen. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The Catholic Educational Exhibit at the World's 
Fair, held in Chicago during 1893, having proved a bril- 
liant success, — so brilliant, indeed, as to surprise even 
many of those who call themselves Catholics, — -the Right 
Rev. John L. Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, 111., conceived 
the design of writing such a history of Catholic educa- 
tion in the United States as would forever impress both 
Catholics and non-Catholics of the Union with the truth, 
to us so distinct and clear, that only through an educa- 
tion in which Science serves Religion can human beings 
be brought near to the innocence and holiness which w^ere 
the shining features of the original terrestrial paradise. 
The Right Rev. Bishop confided his design to Brother 
Maurelian, F.S.C., who, as manager of the Catholic Educa- 
tional Exhibit, had displayed the most splendid zeal and 
talent, and commissioned him to obtain from the various 
dioceses of the Union as much information on the subject 
as possible. Brother MaureHan at once wrote letters to 
the heads of the various dioceses, asking that answers be 
sent to him on certain well-defined questions. His letter 
to the illustrious head of the New York Archdiocese 
was, naturally enough, sent to the present New York In- 
spector of Parochial Schools, with a request for a speedy 
reply, by the Right Rev. Monsignor Farley, V.G. 

The school-inspector, nothing loth, on December 26, 
1893, mailed to the head of ever}^ purely educational in- 
stitution — college, academy, or parish-school — a letter 

5 



O INTRODUCTORY, 

requesting answers to questions as comprehensive as 
those in the letter of Brother Maurelian. 

To the greater number of his requests the inspec- 
tor has had the pleasure of receiving replies conveying 
definite information, and he takes this occasion to thank 
the Rev. pastors and the principals by whom he was so 
graciously and so promptly assisted. 

The information thus obtained, having been ampli- 
fied by consultation of the historians of the New York 
diocese, namely, Archbishop Bayley and John Gilmary 
Shea, is now humbly presented to the whole common- 
wealth of New York, Catholic and non-Catholic, with the 
hope that all of its members will be convinced that the 
true Catholic citizen of the United States loves only one 
thing better than his country, and that the eternal 
Heaven ; and that, moreover, he is always prepared to 
make any sacrifice to serve the former which will not, 
of a certainty, impede his progress towards the latter 
country. In one word, the Catholic citizen of the Union 
will sacrifice for her everything, an^^thing, excepting only 
his immortal soul, or that of his beloved child. Surely 
none can reasonably find fault with this. For great, 
glorious, noble, beautiful though the Union be, she is but 
finite after all ; onl}' God is infinite, only He can give in- 
finite and endless happiness. 

iM. J. C. 



A BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT 



CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 

OF THE 

ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK. 



1609. Henry Hudson entered New York Bay, ex- 
plored the Hudson River as far as the present site of 
Albany, and then returned to make his report in Holland 
to the Dutch East India Company, by which he was. 
employed. 

1614. The Dutch East India Company, after five 
years of deliberation, acting upon the suggestion of 
Hudson, sent out a party to colonize Manhattan Island. 
The colonists purchased the whole island from its native 
proprietors for about twenty-five dollars. 

1664. Fifty years later, the English took possession 
of the island in the name of James, Duke of York and 
brother to the King of England. 

1682. In this year James, Duke of York, who had 
meanwhile risen to the dignity of James II., King of 
England, appointed Thomas Dongan, an Irish Catholic 
and a colonel in the British army, to the governorship 
of his colonial province of New York. This governor,, 
who, as is acknowledged openly, even by the enemies of 
his nation and his creed, was the best of the colonial 
rulers of New York, introduced into the provmce the 

7 



b BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

Jesuit Fathers Harvey and Harrison. By these two 
Jesuits was founded the first Catholic educational insti- 
tution in the Archdiocese of New York. It was called 
the ''New York Latin School"; its building stood on the 
site of old Trinity Church, at Broadway and Wall street, 
and it was attended by the sons of some of the most 
important colonial families. 

1688. James H. having been deprived of his throne, 
his New York representative deemed it prudent and 
right to abandon his charge. On the waves of popular 
tumult (an imprudence which cost him his life) Jacob 
Leisler was raised to the place of Colonel Dongan. 
Most of the Catholic colonists, the Jesuits included, fied 
Manhattan Island and sought security in Maryland. As 
a consequence, the New York Latin School collapsed. 

This New York Latin School was the first essay at 
Catholic education within the limits of the present 
Archdiocese of New York ; and it was the last, until long 
after the happy termination of the Revolutionary war. 

1783. In 1783 the Colonies, the thirteen original States 
of the Union, had achieved independence ; England, the 
ancient and mighty, had yielded to the prowess of the 
youthful Union and the veteran France, led by the genius 
of Washington. In the New York portion of the Union 
Catholics, especially Catholics of Irish birth or parent- 
age, had become quite numerous. They determined upon 
having a Catholic church and the ministry of Catholic 
priests; and they succeeded. The good-hearted members 
of the congregation of Trinity Church — Episcopalians 
though they were — sold to these zealous Catholics the 
necessary land in what is now called Barclay street. At 
once they built St. Peter's Church, oldest of all the Catho- 
lic churches of New York. 

1800. In this year, the kev. William O'Brien, of the 
Order of Preachers, was the learned, holy, and zealous 
pastor of St. Peter's. The Right Rev. Bishop Carroll, at 
the time the onl}^ bishop in the United States, exhorted 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 9 

Father O'Brien to do something- towards the true educa- 
tion of the children of St. Peter's parish. Father O'Brien 
responded promptly by opening- St. Peter's Free School in 
the basement of the Church in Barclay Street, St. Peter's 
Free School (and it has never ceased to be free) had on its 
register, almost from the beginning, no fewer than five 
hundred names. It enjoys the distinction of being the 
oldest Catholic educational institution in the State. 

About 1806 a Catholic had been elected a member of 
the State Legislature. During his term of office a pe- 
tition, signed by three thousand persons, was presented to 
the legislators, praying that, since St. Peter's congregation 
was educating a number of the future citizens, they might 
be aided by receiving a portion of the moneys devoted 
by the State to educational purposes. The petition was 
granted. In the New York State Senate there was only 
one opposing vote. But Americans were nearer then 
than now to the times of honest Washington ! 

1808. The Rev. Anthony Kohlmann, S.J., was pastor 
of St. Peter's in 1808, the same year which was marked 
in distant Italy by the consecration of the Right Rev. 
Luke Concanen, O.P., first bishop of New York. 

Both Father Kohlmann and his assistant, Father Fen- 
wick, S.J., were zealous for Christian education. In 
their zeal they founded the New York Literary Institution, 
on the site now occupied by St. Patrick's Cathedral. 
This institution was intended only for boys ; but the 
Fathers, quite as anxious in behalf of the girls, invited/ 
the Irish Ursulines to come and superintend this portion 
of the educational work. Unhappily for the Church, 
and therefore for the State, both of those institutions 
failed. Meanwhile St. Peter's Free School steadfastly 
endured — endured, too, despite a terrible burden of 
debt which had been unwisely assumed by the lay 
trustees and which was finally paid (except a few thou- 
sand dollars) by the Rev. William Ouinn, afterwards the 
beloved Vicar-General of New York and a Rierht Rev. 



lO BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

Prelate of His Holiness the Pope. Monsignor Quinn 
certainly merited well in the cause of Catholic educa- 
tion, if for no other reason, at least for this : that, while 
trying earnestly to be strictly just to the creditors of old 
St. Peter's, he did not once, not even for a day, suspend 
St. Peter's Free School for Boys and Girls. Later on we 
shall see that Monsignor Quinn has other claims upon the 
love of all who are the true friends of Christian education. 
The immediate successor of Father Quinn as pastor 
of St. Peter's was the Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell, now 
the Right Rev. Bishop of Trenton, Father O'Farrell 
was and is an uncompromising friend of Catholic edu- 
cation. Not long after his elevation to the pastorate 
of New York's most venerable shrine, he conceived the 
project of erecting suitable buildings for St. Peter's Free 
Parish School for Boys and Girls. " Father Quinn," 
thought he, " has reduced St. Peter's debt to a compara- 
tive trifle, and the property of St. Peter's has increased 
much in value. Where, then, can be the imprudence of 
enlarging St. Peter's debt by a few thousand more?" 
Thus thinking, and anxious for the schools. Father O'Far- 
rell set vigorously to work. On June nth, 1873, he pur- 
chased for $80,000 the building at No. 98 Trinity Place, 
formerly used as a manufactory, together with the land 
adjoining it on the north. The necessary alterations of 
the building were completed during the summer of 1873, 
and in September seven hundred boys under the leader- 
ship of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (an order 
founded by St. John Baptist de la Salle for the purpose 
of educating properly the 3^outh of France) having assist- 
ed at the Holy Sacrifice, and having, with their parents 
and others, been instructed and edified by the discourse 
of their truly eloquent pastor, marched in solemn proces- 
sion from the Church of St. Peter, in Barclav street, to 
the Boys' School of St. Peter, at 98 Trinity Place. But 
Father O'Farrell's zeal was still unsatisfied. It would 
raise a building for the girls. Therefore we are not sur- 



EDUCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NE W YORK. 1 1 

prised to learn that in the fall of 1874 the schoolhouse 
for St. Peter's girls had been completed at 100 Trinity 
Place. On the elevation of Father O'Farrell to the bish- 
opric of Trenton, the Rev. James H. McGean, an enlight- 
ened and zealous friend of Catholic education, became 
Pastor of St. Peter's, and within a brief period won the 
respect and affection of the parents and children of old 
St. Peter's parish. Under the present pastorate St. 
Peter's Schools continue to accomplish truly excellent 
results and to foster not a few vocations to the priesthood 
and to religious orders for men and women. With a 
teaching staff of 20, composed of 7 Christian Brothers, 
7 Sisters of Charity, and 6 secular teachers, St. Peter's 
Schools in 1894 number 1070 pupils. 

1815. Very soon after his arrival in New York, her 
new bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. ConnolW, O.P., founded, 
for St. Patrick's boys and girls, the Parish School of St. 
Patrick, in the basement of the new and beautiful Cathe- 
dral in Mulberry Street. Ere long St. Patrick's School 
numbered five hundred pupils, who were temporarily 
given in charge of secular teachers. 

1817. Bishop Connolly's love for the "little ones" of 
the flock of Christ was boundless. He would protect, 
guide, educate them all. And so he managed to establish 
the Orphan Asylum of New York. To conduct his new and 
holy enterprise Bishop Connolly succeeded in obtaining 
a community of the " Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent 
de Paul," whose motherhouse was then at Emmittsburg, 
Md., and whose society had been founded by the pious 
Ehzabeth Seton, a convert to Catholicity. After their 
arrival those zealous sisters were sufficiently generous to 
care not only for the Orphan Asylum, but also for St. 
Patrick's Parish School. 

1825. The good bishop could not rest content until a 
schoolhouse should have been provided for the children 
of his Cathedral parish. In this cause, therefore, he 
labored earnestly and successfully. During 1825 the 



12 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

schoolhouse in Mulberry Street was erected and used for 
its proper purpose. Another wish which was ever close 
to his heart was to obtain the services of some recog- 
nized Brotherhood of Religious who would superintend 
the education of his boys. But he was destined to die 
with this desire unsatisfied. For Bishop Hughes was 
reserved, by Providence, the honor and happiness of 
securing for the Bo)'S' Department of St. Patrick's the 
services of the followers of De La Salle, the Brothers of 
the Christian Schools, who began their labors in this 
school between 1853 and i860. Under the rule of those 
Christian Brothers and of the Sisters of Charity, who 
in the time of Bishop Hughes became truly a Nezv York 
Religions Order, St. Patrick's Schools have prospered 
admirably. Thousands and thousands of New York's 
best citizens are indebted to those schools for their edu- 
cation. In this year of grace, 1894, under the pastorate 
of the Rev. John F. Kearney, St. Patrick's Schools, with 
29 teachers, are educating more than 1700 pupils. Man)-, 
very many of these, are Italians, whose parents are now 
to the Union what the Irish parents were less than half a 
century ago ; that is to say, the Union's honest, hard- 
working, exemplar}^ citizens, whose faults are all on the 
surface, and whose genius, worth, and virtue will yet 
work wonders for our beloved Republic. In one point 
the Italians differ widely from the Irish : they are not 
generous in contributing towards the support of the 
Church and her various institutions of charity. They 
come from a country in which the Church, always gen- 
erous, was also for ages rich and powerful, and in a con- 
dition to give rather than to take material aid from her 
humbler children. The Italians, therefore, cannot yet 
quite understand the conditions under which the Church 
exists in countries where her divine mission is not under- 
stood by the majority of the citizens. When the full 
truth shall at last have gained the empire of their minds, 
perhaps the}' will show themselves as zealous as the Irish 



ED UCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NE W YORK. 1 3 

to make sacrifices for the maintenance of their mother 
Church. 

1826. In 1826 St. Mary's Church was founded by the 
Rev. Hatton Walsh. In the following year, 1827, he 
opened St. Mary's Parish School in the basement of the 
church, then situated in Sheriff Street. He placed the 
school under the superintendence of Mr. Harran, a com- 
petent schoolmaster, leaving him free to take whatever 
measures he might deem proper for gaining his livelihood 
through his educational work. Mr, Harran, accordingly, 
charged his pupils about three dollars a month each ; so 
that St. Mary's Parish Schools were not free in the be- 
ginning. In 1829 Mr. Harran had under his rule about 
100 pupils. In 1834 the Rev. William Quarters, after- 
wards first Bishop of Chicago, was the pastor of St. 
Mary's. By him the Sisters of Charity were introduced, 
and for the first time the schools were made free. The 
Brothers of the Christian Schools were not placed in 
charge of the Boys' Department until some time between 
1850 and 1855, while the Rev. William Starrs, afterwards 
Vicar-General of the diocese, was St. Mary's pastor. 
The successor of Father Starrs was the Rev. Thomas 
Farrell, who in 1855 erected the first schoolhouse at 
No. 54 Pitt Street. Prior to i860 Father Farrell became 
pastor of St. Joseph's in Sixth Avenue, and was succeeded 
in St. Mary's by the Very Rev. Archdeacon McCarron. 
The archdeacon purchased for St. Mary's girls the 
building on Madison Street, near Clinton, known as the 
Rutgers Female Institute, and then regarded as one of 
the finest educational buildings in the State. It was 
opened in September, i860, as St. Mary's Female Institute. 
The Rev. Nicholas J. Hughes, the present pastor, and 
the immediate successor of the Rev. Edward O'Reilly, an 
earnest champion of Catholic schools, having so altered 
and enlarged the Madison Street building as to make it 
commodious enough for the boys and girls, has disposed 
of the Boys' building on Pitt Street, and has changed the 



14 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

title of St. Mary's Female Institute to that of St. Mary's 
Schools. In the present year St. Mary's Schools have 
1004 pupils, and a teaching staff of 23 ; namely, 4 Brothers 
of the Christian Schools, 12 Sisters of Charity, and 7 
secular teachers. In their long and useful career St. 
Mary's Schools have given to the Church at least one 
bishop, the late Right Rev. Francis McNeirny of Albany, 
a goodly number of priests, religious and secular, and a 
very large number of Brothers and Sisters, while to the 
city they have given thousands of exemplary citizens. 

1829. In 1829 a certain Brother Boylen opened an 
institution for the higher education of youth, and was at 
once assisted by some of the wealthier Catholic families 
of the city. But his institution rapidly declined, and died 
through his own lack of efficiency. 

1830. In 1 830 the Sisters of Charity opened St. Patrick's 
Academy for Girls at No. 261 Mulberry Street. This insti- 
tution has ceased to exist. 

1833. The Right Rev. John Dubois, the successor of 
Bishop Connolly, cherished, from the beginning of his 
episcopate, the desire to establish a college and seminary 
for his diocese on the plan of the famous Mt. St. Mary's 
in Maryland, of which he had been the beloved and 
venerated president. After much effort he had the 
happiness, in 1833, of laying, at Nyack-on-the-Hudson, 
the corner-stone of a building destined for this twofold 
purpose. Scarcely had the building been finished when 
it was destroyed by fire. It had not yet been insured, 
and the bishop was obliged to suspend the undertaking. 
Some of the materials of the Nyack building were shipped 
to Brooklyn (then only a village), one of whose laymen, 
Mr. Cornelius Heeny, had offered some lots to the bishop, 
on which a seminary might be erected. Mr. Heeny, 
however, insisted upon seeing the edifice before he would 
give a proper transfer of the land, and therefore his 
offer was rejected. So far as I can learn, from history or 
tradition, this was Mr. Heeny's one mistake. He led a 



ED UCA TIONA L INS TITU TIONS IN NE IV YORK. 1 5 

holy life and died a happ}- death, bequeathing all his 
earthly possessions to the Catholic orphans of New 
York's growing- diocese. 

1835. On May i, 1835, the Sisters of Charity from 
Emmittsburg, Md., opened St. Mary's Academy at 447 Grand 
Street. The house had been secured for them by the 
Rev. William Quarters, then pastor of St. Mary's, and 
afterwards, as already mentioned, first Bishop of Chicago. 
At a later date the academ}^ was removed to its present 
home at No. 229 East Broadway. It began with thirty 
pupils in 1835, and continued to increase until 1861, when 
it registered upwards of two hundred. Since then, like 
all the down-town parishes of the east side of the city, 
St. Mary's has been made to experience the decline of 
Catholicity. In 1894 the average attendance at St. 
Mary's Academy is only seventy-five. 

1838. In the year 1838, Bishop Dubois, still adhering to 
his resolve to have for his diocese a seminary, purchased 
from Mr. Lafarge of Lafargeville, Jefferson County, 
N. Y., the estate of Grovemont, which he opened at once 
for the holy purpose. But students were few, the dis- 
tance from the Metropolis great, and the means of trans- 
fer inadequate. Hence Lafargeville Seminary enjoyed only 
a brief existence. 

1841. To Bishop Hughes, coadjutor and successor to 
Bishop Dubois, and afterwards first Archbishop of New 
York, was reserved the honor of providing for New York 
a permanent seminary. In 1839 ^^ purchased the Rose 
Hill Farm at Fordham, which embraced ninety-eight 
acres, for $30,000. Already on the farm were two sub- 
stantial buildings : first, the old Rose Hill Manor House, 
which had been crowned with a venerable antiquity long 
before the birth of the Republic ; and, secondly, the 
stone house, which now forms the centre of St. John's 
College, and which was erected by Mr. Horatio Shepard 
Moats of Kings Count)^ in the same year in which he 
transferred the property to the Catholics of New York, 



l6 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

represented by Bishop Hughes. As soon as possible 
after obtaining possession, the bishop erected the square, 
one-story edifice which stands near St. John's Hall, facing 
the lawn, and which was intended to accommodate the 
seminarians. This building served afterwards as a paro- 
chial residence, and later still as a meeting-house for the 
pious societies of the parish of Our Lady of Mercy. 
Thither the Lafargeville seminarians, fourteen in number, 
were summoned in the Fall of 1840, their new abode being 
placed under the patronage of St. Joseph, and their first 
superior being the Rev. Felix Vilanis. In the following 
June, on the feast of St. John Baptist 1841, Bishop 
Hughes formally opened St. John's College, with the Rev. 
John McCloskey, afterwards Cardinal Archbishop of 
New York, as the first president. Studies were begun 
in the following September ; the college having some 
fifty or sixty pupils, and the number of seminarians 
having risen from fourteen to thirty, of whom nineteen 
were students of theology. The large building adjoining 
the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, as well as the church 
itself, was begun in 1845, the former intended for use as 
the Seminary proper, the latter as the Seminary Chapel. 
On March 17, 1845, the state legislature granted to the 
young college all the rights and privileges of a university. 
Meanwhile several changes had taken place in the presi- 
dency of the college. Dr. McCloskey remained president 
for about one year. In 1842 he resumed his pastoral 
duties at St. Joseph's Church, Sixth Avenue, and was 
succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Ambrose Ma.nahen. After a 
brief period Dr. Manahen also resigned. He was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. John Harley, a young and promising 
priest. Father Harley 's presidency opened brilliantly, 
and an era of great prosperity seemed about to dawn, 
when the good priest was forced by an illness, from 
which he never recovered, to seek relief in foreign travel. 
The Seminary of St. Joseph was also made to experience 
vicissitude. For in January, 1844, the seminarians were 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 1 7 

ordered from Fordham to the old building which stood 
on the site of the Cathedral at Fifth Avenue and Fiftieth 
Street, probably the same in which Father Anthony 
Kohlmann, S.J., had begun thirty-six years before the 
New York Literary Institution. Here the seminarians 
remained, under the guidance of the Lazarist Fathers, 
until the following September, when they were sent back 
to Fordham. The Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley, D.D., 
afterwards Archbishop oi Baltimore, during those six 
months of exile from Fordham made his immediate 
preparation for ordination to the priesthood. Shortly 
after this event he was made vice-president of St. John's 
College, and in the enforced absence of Father Harley 
he governed the college well and wisely until the 
autumn of 1846, when the Jesuit Fathers, at the invi- 
tation of Bishop Hughes, came on from Kentucky and 
assumed control of the institution. Ever since then 
St. John's College has been under the guidance of those 
peerless directors of youth. In the earl}^ sixties St. 
Joseph's Seminary was transferred to Troy, N. Y. 
Further on we shall speak of it again. At their coming, 
in 1846, the Jesuits found only about fifty pupils. Now 
the students at St. John's are two hundred and sixty. 
The buildings have been multiplied ; the old farm acres 
bear trees for fruit and for kindly shade, and furnish 
forth grains and vegetables for food, and flowers to 
deHght the eye ; and fields for play have been set apart, 
and pleasant pathways made, and improvement added 
to improvement until to-day St. John's is in all respects 
one of the most completely equipped educational institu- 
tions in the United States. Formerly a special commer- 
cial course of study might have been followed at St. 
John's ; but for several reasons this was some time ago 
abandoned, so that now all of her two hundred and sixty 
students follow either the classical or the scientific 
course, or both. 

Of those at one or another period connected with 



1 8 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

the college many have deserved well of the cause of 
Catholic education. First of all was the founder himself, 
the illustrious Bishop Hughes, to whose zealous efforts 
not St. John's alone, but man}- other educational institu- 
tions, owe their origin. He introduced to New York the 
Religious of the Sacred Heart ; he founded St. Joseph's 
Seminary, first at Fordham, then at Tro}' : he stood 
forth as the champion of the children of Catholics, and 
by his eloquence convinced Americans that if they in- 
sisted upon having public schools supported b}' the 
State, they could not logically allow those schools to 
be pervaded by a spirit of an}' sort of sectarianism. 
Americans in New York, acknowledging the soliditv of 
the ground on which he stood, yet, unwilling to go as far 
as true Christianit}' demanded* and aid their Catholic 
fellow-citizens in educating their children according to 
their conscience, chose the one alternative of sustaining 
the public schools without religion, leaving the children's 
religious training to be divided among the parents, 
ministers, priests, and the blessed newspapers. Bishop 
Hughes could not, of course, consent to have his people's 
children sent to schools from which religion was banished, 
any more than he could consent to have them sent to 
schools in which an erroneous religion prevailed. He 
knew also that most Catholics were poor, having been 
made so by the robberies of the glorious Reformation ; 
that they were obliged to labor daily, long and hard, to 
earn for themselves and their numerous children their 
daily bread ; and that, therefore, it was morally impos- 
sible for those parents to devote their attention to the 
Catholic education of their children. What, then, was 
to be done ? The always clear-headed Bishop Hughes 
saw only one way of solving the all-important question. 
" Let parochial schools be established and maintained 
everywhere," thought he ; " the da)'s have come, and the 
place, in which the school is more necessary than the 
Church." Nor did Bishop Hughes fail to act upon this 



d 



ED UCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN N£ W YORK. I9 

conclusion, which with him became a principle. To 
each new pastor by him appointed was he careful to 
say : " You must proceed upon the principle that, in this 
age and country, the school is before the Church " — an 
excellent principle for the young- Church in the United 
States; but a principle only too soon, and too often since, 
abandoned ! 

The successor of Archbishop Hughes, the Most Rev. 
John Cardinal McCloskey of happy memory, also ren- 
dered signal services to the cause of Catholic education — 
first, as the president of St. John's College, and secondly, 
as Bishop of Albany ; and, finally, as Cardinal Archbishop 
of New York. 

The Rev. James Roosevelt Ba3'ley, for some years 
acting president of St. John's, then Bishop of Newark, 
and finally Archbishop of Baltimore, was the author of a 
very interesting and instructive " History-of the Catholic 
Church in New York." 

John Gilmary Shea, whose name will be alwaj^s re- 
membered as that of the historian by excellence of Catho- 
licity in America, was an alumnus of St. John's. 

Father Jouin, S.J., long the professor of philosophy 
at St. John's, is the gifted author of the " Compendium 
Logicae et Metaphysicas " and of the " Compendium 
Philosophise MoraHs," two works which have been ex- 
tensively used as text-books in our colleges and semi- 
naries. 

But who is there of the Jesuits, living or dead, who 
has not in some way rendered important service to Cath- 
olic education ? Their name is a synonym for all that is 
pure, straightforward, honest, and learned. They are 
lovers of truth, of truth in religion, art, science, litera- 
ture ; and as educators, despite all opposition, they per- 
sist in disseminating, propagating, and defending the 
truth that has been found. May the members of their 
societ}^ never cease to be the masters at old St. John's ! 

1841. In this year, 1841, Bishop Hughes obtained for 



20 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

his diocese a community of the Ladies of the Sacred 
Heart, a religious society founded in Paris at the opening 
of the present century, by Madame Barat, for the Christian 
education of young ladies. The New York community 
was under the government of Madame de Galitzin, the 
daughter of one of the noblest Russian families. At the 
corner of Houston and Mulberry streets they opened 
their first New York Academy for Young Ladies, in 1841. 
Finding this locality unsuited to their purpose, they re- 
moved in 1842 to Astoria, L. I. But an opportunity 
arising to secure possession of the Lorillard estate at 
Manhattanville, the community purchased the property 
and opened the academy in 1844. There it has since re- 
mained, doing excellent work among the daughters of 
those families from which, because of their social position 
in the community, much is expected of good and holy 
example. 

1841. The year 1841 is also remarkable as that in 
which Bishop Hughes made a systematic effort to call 
the attention of American citizens to the abuses of the 
then existing common-school system, which, leaving the 
schools of the people in charge of a bigoted " Public 
School Society," was a potent means for spreading 
the most absurd calumnies among the rising generation, 
and for exciting their hatred against a large body of the 
Union's most patriotic citizens. The bishop's effort was 
successful in so far as it led to the abolition of the old, 
and the adoption of the present system of governing the 
public schools. That the present system is defective is 
openly acknowledged by many non-Catholics of the 
highest wisdom and widest experience ; but it is infi- 
nitely preferable to its narrow-minded predecessor. 

1843. In 1843 Bishop Hughes, desiring to place the 
parish of St. Nicholas under the Congregation of the 
Most Holy Redeemer, requested their Superior in Balti- 
more to send a community to New York. His wish was 
compli'^d with ; a community was sent on, with the Rev. 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 21 

Gabriel Rumpler as Father Rector. But the lay trustees 
of St. Nicholas refusing to second the bishop's design, 
the Redemptorists, acting under counsel of the bishop, 
purchased lots in Third Street, on which were raised at 
once "a residence, a school, and a church." The present 
schoolhouse of the Most Holy Redeemer was blessed and 
opened in November 1873, while the Rev. Joseph Wirth, 
C.SS.R., was rector. In 1876 the school had mo pupils 
under the Brothers of Mary and the School Sisters of 
Notre Dame. Now there are 616 pupils under the 
Christian Brothers and the School Sisters of Notre Dame. 

1844. The Parochial School of St. John Baptist was es- 
tablished in 1844 in the basement of the Church, in West 
Thirtieth Street. There it remained under one secular 
teacher until May i, 1871, when the Rev. Bonaventura 
Frey, O.M.Cap., opened the new school-building in 
West Thirty -first Street. The boys were given in 
charge of the Brothers of Mary ; the girls to the Sisters 
of St. Dominic. Originally the number of pupils was 
no; at present it is 336. 

1844. In the month of August 1844, the Rev. Father 
Zachariah Kunze, O.S.F., opened the School of St. Erancis of 
Assisi in West Thirty-first Street. It remained for twenty- 
two years under one secular teacher; and then, in 1866, 
it was placed under the Missionary Sisters of the Third 
Order of St. Francis. In 1894 the number of pupils is 
150. 

1847. The nucleus of St. Francis Xavier's College was 
formed in the basement of the church in Elizabeth Street, 
which was solemnly dedicated July 31, 1847, ^s the 
Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, the first pastor being 
the Rev. Peter Verheyden, S.J. This church was de- 
stroyed by fire, January 22, 1848, and was never rebuilt. 

The Fathers did not suffer this disaster to interfere 
with the college, but conducted classes for a few months 
in the basement of St. James's Church, and then in a 
building on Third Avenue, near Twelfth Street, where 



22 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

they remained until the present building had been com- 
pleted. 

On September 14, 1850, the corner-stone of the Jesuit 
Church in West Sixteenth Street was laid, the orator of 
the occasion being the Right Rev. P. N, L)'nch, S.T.D., 
late Bishop of Charleston. Near the church and simul- 
taneously arose the college buildings, which, through 
continual enlargements and improvements, have become 
one of the conspicuous ornaments of the city. Begin- 
ning with 174 students, the daily attendance at St. Francis 
Xavier's has continued to increase until now it is no less 
than 700. Like St. John's, the record of St. Francis 
Xavier's is one of brilliancy, success, and honor. 

1848. In 1848, on the last day of February, Mon- 
seigneur Jansen, Bishop of Nancy, after a fruitful mission 
among the French in Canada, came to New York, and 
lectured in old St. Peter's to a large audience of French 
and Spaniards. His eloquence in this lecture and in the 
brief retreat which he began for the French on the fol- 
lowing Wednesday was such as to spur the French and 
French-Americans of the city to strive to erect a church 
for themselves. Before the end of May, in that same year, 
they had purchased for $30,750 lots on Canal Street, pre- 
viously occupied by the Episcopal Church of the Annun- 
ciation. The Church of St. Vincent de Paul was soon 
erected, and a parish school established, which latter, with 
175 pupils, was given in charge of the Brothers of the 
Christian Schools. Later both church and school were 
removed to their present place in West Twenty-third 
and Twenty-fourth streets. 

1848. In July 1848, without any special ceremony, the 
first independent institution of the Christian Brothers 
was opened in Second Street, near Second Avenue, as 
the De La Salle Academy. Only 20 pupils answered the 
roll-call in the following September; but since that time 
the number attending old " Second Street," as it is 
known by its affectionate alumni, has been very large. 



EDUCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NE W YORK. 23 

At present, because of the establishment of the De La 
Salle Polytechnic Institute in West Fifty-ninth Street, the 
number of pupils in the Second Street Academy is only 
150. Besides which, the academy has now only a com- 
mercial course, the classical having been abandoned. It 
is no less efificient for its present than it was for its for- 
mer purpose ; and I cannot pronounce for it a higher 
eulogy than to state the fact that, before their gradua- 
tion, the pupils of its senior class are generally, and 
almost to a boy, engaged by the best merchants of New 
York. 

1850. The Germans were the pioneers in the cause of 
Catholic education in Poughkeepsie, having established 
St. Michael's School in 1850. In the beginning the pupils 
were only live or six in number, and were in charge of a 
secular teacher. After some years of patient waiting, a 
schoolhouse was at last provided — a generous Catharine 
Tillman having contributed $1000 towards the erection 
of the building. After this important event the Sisters 
of Christian Charity were placed over the pupils, who now 
number 163. 

1850. Not long after the establishment of St. Francis 
Xavier's College, the zealous Jesuits decided upon estab- 
lishing also a free school for boys. A suitable building 
was erected in West Nineteenth Street, and the school 
was opened under secular teachers with 207 pupils. 
Later on the Christian Brothers took charge, and con- 
tinued to educate the boys until some time within the 
decade of 1870 to 1880, when they withdrew, and were 
succeeded by secular teachers. The present number of 
pupils is 391. 

St. Francis Xavier's School for Girls, in West Eighteenth 
Street, was not opened until May i, 1868. It was at once 
placed under the Religious of the Sacred Heart, than 
whom I know no more efficient educators. Their pupils 
at present are 451 in number. 

1850. On September 8, 1847, was laid the corner-stone 



24 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

of the first Redemptorist Church of wSt. Alphonsus, in 
Thompson Street. On November 25, of the same year, 
the edifice was dedicated by Bishop Hui^hes. Soon 
after, probably about 1850, the basement of the church 
became St. Alphonsus' Parochial School, with five class- 
rooms. The present schoolhouse of St. Alphonsus was 
erected subsequently to 1872. The present number of 
pupils is 809, under the Christian Brothers, the Sisters of 
Charity, and some secular assistants. 

1851. The following account of St. Brigid's Parochial 
Schools is from the pen of the present pastor, the Rev. 
P. F. McS weeny, D.D.: 

" The Rev. Richard Kein, about 1 851, first started the 
school in the basement of the church, with one school- 
master and perhaps 100 children. About 1854 the Rev. 
Thomas F. Mooney introduced the Sisters of Charitv, and 
for three years or so had three of them in the place with 
the original master and about 300 children. In 1857 he 
built and opened the present schoolhouse, without special 
ceremony, increasing the number of Sisters, and also 
introducing the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Al- 
though no statistics were kept at the time, it is likely 
that there were some 1000 children in all at the com- 
mencement. Afterwards, owing to the fact that the 
Catholic population of St. Brigid's began to migrate to 
the upper part of the city, the number of children gradu- 
ally diminished, although the school was more and more 
improved b}' the increase of teachers and the lessening 
of the number of pupils in each class. When Father 
Mooney died, in 1877, there were 12 teachers, and 
probably 800 children. In 1878 the school was further 
improved by the addition of another building by the 
Rev. P. F. McSvveeny, S.J-D., so that, at the present 
writing, 1893, all the classes are well lighted, and the 
accommodations generally quite satisfactory ; but, for 
the reasons heretofore given, the number of children is 
still growing smaller. The present number is 712, and 



EDUCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 25 

the number of teachers 15 ; namel}', six Sisters of Charity, 
four Brothers of the Christian Schools, and five secular 
teachers. To say that an}- of them has done any signal 
service for education would, probably, be an exaggera- 
tion ; but since 185 1, in the forty-two years of its exist- 
ence, St. Brigid's has turned out a big army of good 
Christian men and women, among whom are many 
priests and members of religious orders." 

1853. In 1853, after five years of labor in Canal Street 
and at De La Salle Academ}^, the Brothers of the Chris- 
tian Schools resolved to found a college. A commanding 
site, overlooking the Hudson at Manhattanville, was pur- 
chased, and on it was erected the Academy of the Holy 
Infancy. The school remained an academy until 1863, 
when by a charter from the State it was endowed with 
the title of Manhattan College and the powers and privi- 
leges of a university. Within a short time Manhattan 
College, under the presidenc}^ of Brother Patrick, — whose 
virtues and abihty raised him to the rank of Assistant to 
the Superior-General of his order and made a deep im- 
pression upon the hearts and minds of many of New 
York's best citizens, — and of his successors, Brothers 
Paulian, Humphrey (to whose spirit peace !), and An- 
thony, marched forward to the front rank of metropolitan 
educational institutions. Its reputation became almost 
universal. During the writer's time at Manhattan, Ire- 
land, Spain, Cuba, Venezuela, California, Georgia, South 
Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Maryland, — were 
all represented among the students. But, of course, the 
greater number belonged to New York State. Whether 
or not experience has caused the Brothers to formulate a 
code of strict written rules for the government of the 
college, I do not know ; but in the days of the earl)'^ and 
middle 70's, they strove to make the life at college as 
like as possible to ordinary American life at home. 
Freedom of speech and freedom of written expression of 
thought were encouraged in the intercourse of the pupils 



26 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

with one another and with their teachers. " True Chris- 
tian, manly honor, and close attention to duty," — these 
were the watchwords given by the Brothers to their 
boys ; and, considering the natural rashness of youth, and 
its impatience of restraint by parents, professors, books, 
laws, manners, rules, or customs, this Alma Mater of 
many hundreds has no cause to blush for her training 
and its results. Many of Manhattan's sons have become 
wise lawyers, and skilful physicians, and zealous clergy- 
men, and exemplary men of business. Only a few have 
been wiled away from the path of righteousness ; none 
from the path of Christian truth. The Brothers are not 
accustomed to speak much to their students on the sub- 
ject of vocation to the religious or the ecclesiastical 
state ; nor do they much more than set an illustrious ex- 
ample of frequent reception of the sacraments. Never- 
theless, many of their boys freely and lovingly assist at 
the Holy Sacrifice every day during Lent and during 
Mary's month, and many of them also study for the 
priesthood — so many that I can safely venture to assert 
that no class was ever graduated from Manhattan which 
did not number one or moi-e aspirants to the religious or 
the ecclesiastical state. 

The city has grown very much since 1863. Soon 
there will be scant space left on Manhattan Island for the 
isolation, the solitude so desirable for institutions of 
learning. Comprehending this, the Brothers purchased, 
within the last two or three years, a piece of ground on 
the Hudson River, between Dobbs' Ferry and Irvington, 
which is an ideal site for a college. Pending the opening 
of the new, the old Manhattan College pursues its even 
course of usefulness to Church and State, with a register 
of about 400 students. 

1853. In 1853 the Rev. Thomas S. Preston, afterwards 
Chancellor and Vicar-General of New York and a Right 
Rev. Prelate of His Holiness the Pope, became the first 
resident pastor of St. Mary's Parish. Yonkers, which had 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 2/ 

been founded six years previously by the Rev. Jesuit 
Father John Ryan, of St. John's College, Fordham. The 
earliest care of young Father Preston was the establish- 
ment of a parish school. He erected a small " gable- 
roofed brick structure " near St. Mary's Church and 
opened it as St. Mary's Parochial School, with 25 pupils, in 
charge of a secular teacher. In 1855 Father Preston was 
made secretary to Bishop Hughes, and the Rev. E. Lynch 
succeeded him as pastor of St. Mary's. Father Lynch 
built a more commodious schoolhouse than that of Father 
Preston, and introduced as teachers the Brothers of the 
Christian Schools and the Sisters of Charity. 

In June, 1877, the Rev. Charles R. Corley, the present 
pastor, found the whole parish property heavily en- 
cumbered, and " the boys' school closed for want of funds. 
In September of the same year he recalled the Brothers 
and opened both departments of the school, with an at- 
tendance of 350 pupils." This number went on increasing 
until 1885, when Father Corley found it necessary to en- 
large the school to three times its original capacity. " It 
is now in splendid order, well ventilated, and furnished 
with steam-heating apparatus to insure perfect warmth 
during winter." The teaching staff, composed of five 
Christian Brothers, eight Sisters of Charity, and three 
secular teachers, educate in 1894 no fewer than 900 
pupils. 

1854. During the pastorate of the Rev. Walter J. 
Quarters, a brother of Chicago's first bishop, and the suc- 
cessor of the Rev. E. J. O'Reilly, on June 11, 1854, the 
Very Rev. William Starrs solemnly dedicated the Church 
of St. Lawrence O'Toole in East Eight3^-fourth Street. 
" Almost immediately " — I quote from Goulding's His- 
tory — " Father Quarters instituted parochial and Sunday 
schools, placing the girls under the care of the Sisters of 
Charity." 

In 1866 the Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey trans- 
ferred the care of the parish to the Society of Jesus, the 



28 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

Rev. Father Marechal being appointed pastor. In 1876 
the Parochial Schools of St. Lawrence had 758 pupils, with 
Sisters of Charity and some seculars as teachers. At 
present, under the same Sisters, the pupils number 482. 

Besides the school there is an institution of later date, 
namely, St. Lawrence's Academy, conducted by the Sisters 
of Charity. It has a register of 76, 

1854. In 1854 the Rev. John Lewis founded St. Mary's 
Parochial School at Rosebank, S. I. In the beginning there 
were only 90 pupils, in charge of a secular teacher. Now 
it is conducted by the Sisters of Charity, and numbers 
about 300 pupils. The same zealous pastor assisted the 
Sisters of Charity in founding within the limits of his 
parish St. Mary's Academy. It opened in 1867, September 
2d, with 19 pupils; now it has 54. 

1854. In May, 1854, the Rev. Patrick McKenna, anx- 
ious to accommodate the pupils of St. James's Parochial 
Schools, who since about 1838 had had no better school 
than the basement of St. James's Church, purchased for 
$20,000 the Mariners' Church in Roosevelt Street, and 
lost no time in transforming it into such a school-building 
as would, to some extent, meet the requirements of the 
children of his parish. Before long that building became 
entirely inadequate. Wherefore, in 1868, the Rev. Felix 
Farrelly, then pastor of St. James's, built the splendid 
schoolhouse which stands at the corner of James Street 
and New Bowery. This building, in 1876, was at- 
tended by no fewer than 1340 pupils. Since that time, 
for causes already shown in the case of other parishes in 
the southeastern portion of the city, the daily attendance 
at St. James's Schools is smaller than it used to be. 
Nevertheless, under the enlightened and zealous pastor- 
ate of the Rev. John J. Kean, St. James's Schools have a 
register of iioo pupils. These pupils are in charge of 
the Sisters of Charit3% the Brothers of the Christian 
Schools, and several secular teachers. More than once 
have those old schools, despite their noisy surroundings. 



EDUCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 2g 

been recorded as best in New York by the Archdiocesan 
Inspector, 

1864. On December 8, 1854, the reigning Pontiff, 
Pius IX., of blessed memory, in presence of 600 bishops, 
and amid the plaudits of 200,000,000 Catholics, defined 
the dogma of sweet Mary's Immaculate Conception. 
Whereupon the Right Rev. John Hughes, Bishop of 
New York, and then present in Rome, resolved that as 
soon as possible a church should be raised in New York 
to emphasize the papal definition. Property in East 
Fourteenth Street had been already acquired, and the 
Rev. Bernard Farrelly was appointed in June 1855 to 
build up New York's Church and Parish of Mary's Im- 
maculate Conception. Father Farrelly 's health failing, 
the work was assigned to the Rev. John Ryan, in October, 
1855. Father Ryan labored zealously, and the Church 
of the Immaculate Conception was solemnly dedicated 
by Archbishop Hughes, in May, 1858. The Schools of the 
Immaculate Conception must have been opened shortl}^ 
afterwards, — because Father Ryan was zealous for 
Catholic education, — probably in the basement of the 
church. But the present schoolhouse was erected in 
1864, by the Rev. Dr. Morrogh, one of Father Ryan's 
most zealous successors. He gave the school in charge 
of the Sisters of Charity. In 1875, on October 23d, Dr. 
iSIorrogh died in Italy, whither he had wandered in search 
of the boon of health. His immediate successor is the 
Rev. John Edwards, who for some years was procurator 
and professor of sacred eloquence in the seminary at 
Troy. Under his regime the Brothers of the Christian 
Schools have been introduced, and the schools of the Im- 
maculate Conception, during several successive years, 
numbered about 1700 pupils. For the past two or three 
years the parish has been declining, both because of the 
influx of non-Catholics and the uptown migration of 
Catholics. Nevertheless, the schools continue to be 
among the largest in the city, and, under thirty-two 



30 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

teachers, Brothers, Sisters, and seculars, educate 1450 
children. 

1855. In 1855 the Ursuline Nuns opened St. Joseph's 
Academy in East Morrisania. In 1876 their academy had 
some 60 pupils. In 1892 the academy was removed to 
Mt. St. Ursula, Bedford Park. The number of pupils 
has increased to 98. 

1855. In the month of April, 1855, the Very Rev. Arch- 
deacon McCarron, who died pastor of St. Mary's, erected 
the schoolhouse of St. Joseph in Leroy Street. Under his 
zealous administration of the dear old parish, no fewer 
than 850 children were educated by the Christian 
Brothers, the Sisters of Charit}- , and several assistant sec- 
ulars. The present number of pupils is a little over 700, 
and the composition of the teaching staff remains un- 
changed. The school-building stands now within the 
limits of the recently established parish of St. Veronica. 

1856. In 1856 Archdeacon McCarron, with the Sisters 
of Charity, established St. Joseph's Academy, at which there 
are now 32 pupils. 

1856. In 1856 the Sisters of Charity founded St. Brigid's 
Academy, the first Superior being Mother Angela Hughes, 
the sister of Bishop Hughes. The original number of 
pupils was 32 ; the present is 153. 

1856. The Transfiguration Schools were opened in 1856 by 
the Rev. Father McClellan, then pastor. At one period of 
their existence these schools were very flourishing, ac- 
commodating about 1200 children under the Christian 
Brothers and the Sisters of Charity. But within the last 
decade or two the character of the district has been wo 
fully changed. Church, school, and rectory now stand 
in the midst of New York's Chinese quarter ; the congre- 
gation has dwindled away, the Christian Brothers have 
departed, and the few Sisters and secular teachers now 
necessary have only about 300 pupils. 

1857. In 1846 certain difficulties arose between the 
Archbishop of New York and the Superiors in Emmitts- 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 31 

burg of the Sisters of Charity. Those difficulties were 
speedily and wisely settled in the following- manner : 
The Sisters then in New York, to the number of 50, were 
dispensed from their vows of obedience, and were given 
liberty of choice between returning to Maryland and 
remaining in New York. Out of the 50, 32 chose to re- 
main. These founded the new community of " Sisters of 
Charity of St. Vincent de Paul," and elected Mother M. 
Elizabeth Boyle as first Superior. By 1847 the Sisters 
had established themselves at 105th Street and Fifth 
Avenue, in a mother-house to which they gave the name 
of Mt. St. Vincent Academy. Here they remained until 
1857, when the property was disposed of to the city 
authorities, who wished to include it in the new Central 
Park. In the same year the Sisters founded the present 
Mt. St. Vincent Academy, which with its surroundings 
forms one of the most beautiful scenes to be observed 
along the beautiful shores of the Hudson. Their old 
home, without change of name until recently, was trans- 
formed into a restaurant, and enjoyed the generous pat- 
ronage of the numerous visitors to the park. Their new 
academy has been very successful. The present number 
of young ladies there is 185. Here also is the novitiate 
of the Sisters, who, in 1846 numbering onl}^ 32, are now 
1080. It is to be hoped that this community will con- 
tinue to increase. For certainly its members have 
accomplished abundant good in the diocese. The}' have 
directed and taught the greater number of our select, as 
well as of our parochial, schools ; they have directed and 
governed one of New York's noblest hospitals ; the}- have 
been in charge of New York's FoundHng and Orphan 
Asylums, and of several industrial schools and day- 
nurseries ; in one word, they have labored honestly to de- 
serve their title of Sisters of Charity — that Christian 
charity which makes itself " all to all men, that it may 
lead all to Christ." 

1858. In September, 1858, the Holy Cross Academy was 



32 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUXT OF CATHOLIC 

opened by the Sisters of Charity, in West Forty-second 
Street, with 75 pupils. The present number of pupils is 
245. 

1858. About 1858 the Rev. Michael McAleer opened 
St. Coluniba's Schools in West Twenty-lifth Street, placing- 
the boys under the Christian Brothers, the girls under 
the Sisters of Charity. No record remains either of spe- 
cial ceremonies at the opening, or of the original number 
of pupils. Some years ago the Brothers withdrew from 
St. Columba's, and since then the children, who now 
number 547, have been taught by the Sisters of Charity 
and some secular assistants. 

1859. The corner-stone of the Church of the Assump- 
tion in West Forty-ninth Street was laid by Archbishop 
McCloskey on May ist, 1859, the pastor being the Rev. 
Benedict Stroehle. From the beginning Father Stroehle 
had a parish school ; but it was only towards the close of 
his pastorate, which ended in 1876, that he succeeded 
in erecting the pretty school-building in West Fiftieth 
Street. After its erection all his children were placed 
under the School Sisters of Notre Dame, of Milwaukee. 
These Sisters are still in charge and have 482 pupils. 
From the present pastor, the Rev. A. B. Schwenniger, 
the Notre Dame Sisters, themselves true artists in teach- 
ing, receive great encouragement. He is continually in- 
venting, contriving, or writing something whereb}'^ the 
cause of education may be advanced, not in the i\.ssump- 
tion Schools only, but everywhere. Happily, perhaps, 
for his countrymen, unhappily for the rest of us, his 
writings are all in German. 

1859. In 1859 the Rev. William H. Clowry, a graduate 
of Ireland's famous Seminary of Maynooth, a professor of 
the Western " Seminary of St. Mary's of the Lake," a 
perfect Irish gentleman and a perfect Catholic priest, 
was honored by Archbishop Hughes with the duty of 
erecting and perfecting the now magnificent parish of 
the glorious Archangel Gabriel, the Angel of the I near- 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 33 

nation. Not long was this man of God, this stanch 
upholder of Christ's authority in the sacred persons of 
His duly-appointed bishops^ — not long was he in founding 
schools according to the mind and heart of that illustrious 
archbishop who had declared that the time had come 
for " the School before the Church," Scarcely had his 
building in East Thirty-sixth Street been finished, when, 
in May, i86q, its upper portion was opened as St. Gabriel's 
Girls' School and placed in charge of the ever-ready Sisters 
of Charity. At the opening of St. Gabriel's Girls' 
School, the pupils, 300 in number, assisted, with their 
teachers, at the Holy Sacrifice, which was offered by 
their zealous pastor. In the spring of 1863 Father 
Clowry opened the Boys' School in the lower portion of the 
building already mentioned. There were 450 boys, who 
during 18 months continued to be instructed by secular 
teachers. In the winter of 1865 Father Clowry suc- 
ceeded in obtaining the services of the Brothers of tke 
Christian Schools. From that time forward St. Gabriel's 
Schools made admirable progress. So famous did they 
become that whenever a friend of parish schools would 
name St. Gabriel's as an illustration of their efficiency, 
his opponent would be forced to the reply that not every 
parish school was like St. Gabriel's. During several 
years the pupils of St. Gabriel's received a truly aca- 
demic education, such as, if sought elsewhere, would have 
cost their parents many hundreds of dollars. For the 
past twelve or fifteen years they have not ventured upon 
a higher grade of studies than that followed in the public 
schools ; but within this grade they retain all their 
ancient efficiency under the fostering care of the Right 
Rev. Monsignor Farley, V.G., the present pastor. Al- 
though the buildings had been much enlarged by Father 
Clowry, Monsignor Farley, soon after his appointment 
to the pastorate, found it necessary to increase still more 
the accommodations for the schools. He therefore 
erected St. Gabriel's Hall, a splendid building, which serves 



34 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

not only for public examinations and exhibitions of the 
schools, but also affords five excellent rooms for the five 
highest classes of the Bo3^s' Department. In fine, Mon- 
signor Farley, during the present month, March, 1894, has 
succeeded in his efforts to obtain from the Regents of the 
New York State University a charter recognizing St. 
Gabriel's as a school of the middle academic grade — an 
honor long delayed and richly merited. In the present 
year the number of pupils attending St. Gabriel's Schools 
is no less than 1584. The teaching staff is 29 in number: 
namely, 4 Christian Brothers, 15 Sisters of Charity, and 
10 secular teachers. It is also worthy of note that during 
the regular season there is a St. Gabriel's Evening-school, 
with about 100 pupils, under one of the clergymen and 
several secular teachers. 

1860. In September, i860. Sister M. Cornelia, as- 
sisted by the Rev. Father Clowry, opened St. Gabriel's 
Academy in East Thirt3'-sixth Street. The original num- 
ber of pupils was 50 ; the present number is 75. The work 
of the Sisters of Charity in this academy has been always 
such as to attract pupils from other parts of the city be- 
sides that which forms the parish of St. Gabriel. 

1860. In i860 the Rev. John Breen became pastor of 
the parish of the Annunciation, Manhattanville. By his 
efforts was erected the building used as a parish school for 
boys, who were placed under the Christian Brothers of 
Manhattan College, which adjoins the parish church. 
The girls of the district had already been provided for 
by the ReHgious of the Sacred Heart, who, prior to the 
disastrous conflagration of a few years ago, conducted a 
free school near the Academy Building. This school has 
passed out of existence. The Boys' School still endures 
under the pastoral administration of the Rev. M. A. 
Nolan, and numbers 218 pupils, taught by two Christian 
Brothers and two secular teachers. 

1861. In 1 861 the Parochial School of St. Joseph, West 
One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Street, was established in the 



EDUCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 35 

basement of the church. There it remamed under the 
guidance of secular teachers until 1885, with ;about 100 
pupils. In the second week of September, 1885, the new 
schoolhouse erected by the Rev. Anthony Kesseler, the 
present pastor, was solemnly blessed by the Most Rev. 
Archbishop Corrigan, attended by Father Kesseler, 
The original number of pupils in this building was 
140, and the original teachers were of the Order of St. 
Dominic. The Sisters of St. Dominic were succeeded 
by the Sisters of St. Agnes, who in their turn were suc- 
ceeded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, from Mil- 
waukee. These last-named religious continue to direct 
the school, which has increased to 350 pupils. 

1864. On the 24th of October, 1864, occurred an 
event of the highest importance to the diocese of New 
York, for on that day the Most Rev. Archbishop Mc- 
Closkey solemnl}^ dedicated the Chapel of St. Joseph's 
Seminary, Tro}', N. Y. Assisting him on that memorable 
day were the Right Rev. John B. Fitzpatrick, Bishop of 
Boston ; the Right Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, Bishop of 
Burlington ; the Right Rev. David W. Bacon, Bishop of 
Portland ; the Right Rev. F. P. McFarland, Bishop of 
Hartford; and the Very Rev, John J. Conro}^ Adminis- 
trator, and shortly afterwards Bishop, of Albany. 

The Seminary building, with its 42 surrounding 
acres on the summit of Ida Hill, had been purchased 
by Archbishop Hughes from the Methodists for $60,000. 
The Methodists were led to part with the property by 
the failure of the university which they had established 
upon it some few years previously. About $60,000 addi- 
tional were expended in altering the building so as to fit 
it for its present purpose. 

It was opened with 57 students of philosophy and 
theology, under the presidency of the Very Rev. H. 
Vandenhende, a Canon of the Cathedral of Ghent, in 
Belgium. As co-educators with him of the candidates 
for the holy priesthood, Canon Vandenhende had the 



k 



$6 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

Rev. Henry Gabriels, now the Right Rev. Bishop of Og- 
densburg ; the Rev. Charles Roelants, now a Canon of 
Ghent ; the Rev. Peter A. Puissant, now the Very Rev. 
President of the Seminary— all of whom had been distin- 
guished students of Louvain's famous university, and all 
of whom are excellent scholars and model priests. Be- 
sides these Louvain graduates there were in the original 
faculty two American priests, namely, the Rev. Alexan- 
der Sherwood Healy, at first professor of Moral Theol- 
ogy and afterwards Director, and the Rev. Patrick W. 
Tandy, who discharged the very important duties of pro- 
curator. In 1 87 1 Canon Vandenhende returned to his 
native land with the benediction of all who had known 
him in America, and Dr. Gabriels became president of St. 
Joseph's. It was in 1871 also that the seminary faculty 
was enriched by the advent of the Rev. Augustine Fivez, 
S.T.L. Lov., for many years professor of Dogmatic and 
now professor of Moral Theology. 

The names of the friends of Catholic education who, 
either as professors or students or in both capacities, 
have been connected with St. Joseph's Seminary would 
make a list too long for insertion here, since it would in- 
clude almost all of those who have the right to hail her as 
Alma Mater. And here we may introduce a quotation from 
the pretty little *' Souvenir " issued on the occasion of 
the blessing of the corner-stone of the new St. Joseph's 
Seminary, near Yonkers. " From its opening until 
January, 1891, St. Joseph's Seminary has matriculated 
over 900 students, of whom 468, after the regular course, 
have been ordained priests in the Seminary Chapel, the 
others having either died or been ordained elsewhere, 
or abandoned their studies. There are, at the present 
writing (May, 1891), about 183 students of St. Joseph's 
laboring in the diocese of New York ; 58 in Albany ; 69 
in Boston; 48 in Rochester; 13 in Hartford; 11 in 
Springfield, Mass.; 15 in Ogdensburg ; 4 in Portland, 
Me.; 8 in Peoria ; 4 in Burlington ; 29 in Syracuse ; 5 in 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 3/ 

Providence ; 4 in Manchester ; 3 in Trenton ; i in De- 
troit ; 2 in Denver ; i in Buffalo ; i in Louisville ; i in 
Chicago ; 2 with the Jesuits ; i with the Redemptorists." 
The author of the " Souvenir " acknowledges his indebted- 
ness for the above statistics to the Right Rev. Bishop 
Gabriels, formerly president of the seminary. 

In 1894 there are in the Hierarchy of the United 
States two bishops who owe their education to St. 
Joseph's — namely, the Right Rev. Bishop Bradley, of 
Manchester, and the Right Rev. Bishop Tierney, of 
Hartford. 

The present number of students at Troy is 128. 

During the Fourth Diocesan Synod of New York, 
held under the presidency of the Most Rev. Archbishop 
Corrigan, His Grace declared his intention to provide a 
new St. Joseph's Seminar}- within easier distance of the 
Metropolis than the one in Troy, and appointed a com- 
mittee to decide upon a site for the contemplated institu- 
tion. The final result was the purchase, b}^ Archbishop 
Corrigan, of part of the estate known as Valentine Hill, 
near Yonkers, for the sum of $64,146.77. It consists of 
nearly 60 acres. For nearly two centuries this property 
had belonged to the Valentine family, and it is rich in 
Revolutionary reminiscences. 

On May 17, 1891, the feast of Pentecost, the Most 
Rev. Archbishop Corrigan blessed the corner-stone of 
the new seminary in presence of a multitude so great that 
the elevated railroads of New York, in coniunction with 
the " New York and Northern," which passes hard by the 
seminary, were found whoU}^ inadequate for its proper 
transportation. 

The new seminary, now complete exteriorly, is a 
magnificent structure, whose plans, perfect in every 
detail, were prepared by Messrs. Schickel & Co.» archi- 
tects, of New York City. 

The cost of this building will be considerably more 
than half a million dollars, much of which is being con- 



38 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

tributed b}' the priests of the diocese. The Most Rev. 
Archbishop is the donor of the Seminary Chapel, which 
will cost about $60,000. The whole building will be fire- 
proof and fitted for the accommodation of at least 100 
students. 

1865. In September, 1865, the Rev. Joseph Woods 
opened St. Augustine's School in East One Hundred and 
Seventieth Street, giving it in charge of secular teachers. 
The Rev. M. A. Nolan, Father Woods' successor, built 
the commodious little schoolhouse, and introduced the 
Sisters of Charity, whose pupils number now 150. 

1867. The Rev. Father Buchmeyer in 1867 erected 
the schoolhouse of St. Nicholas in Second Street. The boys 
are under the Christian Brothers, the girls under the 
Sisters of St. Dominic. The whole number of pupils is 
500. 

1867. In 1867 the V^ery Rev. Father Bonaventura 
Fre}^ O.M.Cap., founded the School of Our Lady of Sor- 
rows at the corner of Pitt and Stanton streets, with 50 
pupils in charge of secular teachers. The Brothers of 
Mary now have charge of the boys, and the Sisters of St. 
Dominic have charge of the girls. The present number 
of pupils is nearly 600. 

1868. In September, 1868, the Rev. James Dougherty, 
D.D., opened St. Joseph's School at Kingston, Ulster County 
with 127 pupils, to whom he gave as teachers the Sisters 
of Charity. The present number of pupils is 185. 

1869. In the fall of 1869 Madame Victorine Boucher 
opened at Fordham a private academy for girls, which 
was the predecessor, as had been her intention, of the 
present St. Joseph's Institute for Deaf Mutes. The first of 
the class for whose education the institute was designed 
was received a few weeks subsequent to the opening of 
the academy. The institute has so prospered that it 
now has two branches, one in Brooklyn, which began in 
the spring of 1874, and the other in Westchester, opened 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 39 

in 1876. All these houses are directed by excellent ladies, 
who are wholly devoted to the work. The institute has 
at present 97 pupils at Fordham, 63 in Brooklyn, and 141 
at Westchester. 

1869. In 1869 the Rev. Matthew Nicot, founder and 
first pastor of the Church of St. Boniface, erected the 
school-building in East Forty-seventh Street, at an expense of 
$49,000. The children, 238 in number, are taught by four 
Sisters of St. Dominic. 

1870. On September 5, 1870, the Rev. Arthur J. Don- 
nelly, afterwards a Right Rev. Prelate of His Holiness 
and Vicar-General of New York, opened the Boys' De- 
partment of St. Michael's School, with 340 pupils, whom he 
placed under secular teachers. On September 28, 1874, 
the same pastor opened the Girls' Department with 623 
pupils, whom he gave 'in charge of the Irish Presentation 
Nuns, an efficient body of teachers. The boys now 
number 577, the girls 757. 

During a period of five years or so, the Right Rev. 
John L. Spalding, Bishop of Peoria, was the director of 
St. Michael's Schools. 

1870. In September, 1870, the Academy of St. Joseph at 
Peekskill, on the Hudson, having been blessed by Father 
Karel, the Chaplain, was opened by the Sisters of St. 
Francis with 6 pupils. This number has increased to 
55. The educational work of the Sisters is not confined 
to the academy, for on the same premises they conduct a 
large institution for destitute children. 

1870. In 1870 the Rev. Eugene Maguire opened St. 
Paul's Parochial School in East One Hundred and Eighteenth 
Street, after having had it blessed by the Most Rev. 
Archbishop McCloskey. In the beginning the school, 
in charge of the Sisters of Charity, numbered 300 pupils ; 
now it numbers 600. 

It may as well be recorded here that the present 
pastor of St. Paul's, the Rev. John McQuirk, D.D., 
opened in November, 1893, an industrial school, called 



40 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

" The Catholic Child's Aid School," at No. 2249 Second Ave- 
nue. Although its opening is of such recent date, this 
school has more than 200 pupils, who are in charge of the 
" Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mar}-." 

1870. Some time within this decade, probably in 1873, 
the Rev. John Larkin opened the School of the Holy In- 
nocents m. West Thirty-seventh Street, giving the whole 
charge at first to the Sisters of Charit}^ and several secu- 
lar teachers. Afterwards the Christian Brothers took 
charge of the Boys* Department. The number of pupils 
now is 510. 

1870. In the year 1870 was opened St. Ann's School, 
East Eleventh Street, and placed under the Sisters of 
Charity. The present number of pupils is 388. The 
founder of the school was the Right Rev. Thomas S. 
Preston, for many years Vicar-General and Chancellor 
of the New York diocese, an eloquent preacher, a 
luminous author of several works on Catholic faith and 
devotion, and an uncompromising friend of Catholic edu- 
cation. 

1872. In the beginning of January, 1872. the Rev, 
A. A. Lings opened St. Joseph's Schools, Yonkers, with 250 
pupils, who were placed in charge of secular teachers. 
On the occasion the celebrated orator, Wendell Phillips, 
lectured before a large audience. In 1882 the Sisters of 
Charity were introduced. They still direct the school, 
which in 1894 numbers 750. Seven of St. Joseph's boys 
have risen to the priesthood. 

1872. In 1872 the Rev. Joseph Stumpe became 
pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 
Melrose, which had been founded twenty 3ears previ- 
ously by the Rev. Caspar Metzler. Soon after his ap- 
pointment Father Stumpe erected St. Mary's Literary 
Institute, on One Hundred and Fifty-first Street, a building 
175 feet in front and 60 feet m depth, for parochial school 
purposes. To teach the pupils, who in 1876 were 530 
in number, he secured the services of the Christian 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 4I 

Brothers and of the Sisters of Christian Charity. Father 
Stumpe's immediate successors are the Redemptorist 
Fathers, under whose regime the number of pupils has 
risen to 700. 

1873. In this year St. Louis' College in West Forty- 
second Street was opened by the Rev. Michael Ronay, 
S.P.M. About four or five years since, the college was 
removed to its present home in West Fifty-eighth Street. 
Since the death of Father Ronay, it has been under the 
presidency of Prof. John P. Brophy, LL.D. The present 
number of pupils is 60. 

1873. On November 14, 1873, the Rev. James Boyce, 
then pastor of St. Theresa's Parish, placed 300 girls in 
charge of the Ursuline Nuns. This number has been 
increased to 450. 

1873. On October T2, 1873, the Right Rev. William 
Quinn, V.G., dedicated the Church of St. Mary Magdalen 
in East Seventeenth Street, of which Father Adam Tonner 
was founder and first pastor. Between 1880 and 1890 
Father Tonner succeeded in erecting and opening a fine 
schoolhouse for the children of his parish, whom he gave 
in charge of the Sisters of St. Dominic. The pupils now 
number 262. 

1874. On September 13, 1874, the Very Rev. Father 
James Titte, O.S.F., blessed St. Anthony's School in pres- 
ence of the societies of the Hol}^ Name and of St. 
Anthony of Padua, who were then addressed by the 
Rev. Henry A. Brann, D.D. On the following day the 
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis took charge of 
the school with 554 pupils. The present number is 669. 

1877. On April 26, 1877, the Rev. John C. Poole, after 
celebrating the Holy Mysteries in presence of 276 pupils, 
proceeded with them and their teachers, the Sisters of 
Charity, to the new schoolhouse of St. Rose of Lima, at 
West New Brighton, S.I., which he then blessed and left to 
its holy work. The present number of pupils is 203. 

1878. In September, 1878, the Rev. Edward F. X. 



I 



42 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

McSweeny, S.T.D., established St. Mary's School, Pough- 
keepsie, with lOO pupils and one secular teacher. The 
pupils, under the present pastor, the Rev. Edward J. 
Conroy, number 230, under three Sisters of Charity and 
one secular. 

1879. In 1879, during the pastorate of the saintly Rev. 
Joseph Durthaller, S.J., a good schoolhouse was built for 
St. Joseph's Parish, in East Eighty-seventh Street, and was 
opened as soon as possible. On the death of Father 
Durthaller, the Jesuit Fathers having signified their 
desire to resign the charge of St. Joseph's, the present 
pastor, the Rev. Anthony Lammel, was appointed. Dur- 
ing his administration St. Joseph's School has been 
greatly improved. A story has been added to the 
original edifice, giving four new and pleasant class- 
rooms ; an excellent kindergarten has been established ; 
the number of pupils has risen to 920; the teaching staff, 
composed of Sisters of Notre Dame, has been increased 
to the number of 16 ; and the full graded course of studies 
prescribed by the School Board has been introduced and 
is faithfully followed. 

1880. During the decade beginning with 1880, the 
Christian Brothers purchased the building in West Fifty- 
ninth Street which had long been used for educational 
purposes, and had been known as the Charlier Institute. 
As soon as possible it was opened by the Brothers as the 
De La Salle Polytechnic Institute. On its roll to-day are the 
names of 289 pupils. 

1880. In September, 1880, the Rev. James J. Dough- 
erty, now rector of the Mission of the Immaculate 
Virgin, established St. Monica's School in East Eightieth 
Street. He placed the 350 pupils under the Sisters of 
Charity and several secular teachers. These continue to 
direct St. Monica's, which now numbers about 1000 
pupils.' 

1881. In September, 1881, the Academy of the Holy 
Rosary at 137 to 143 Second Street was opened by the 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 43 

Sisters of St. Dominic, under the direction of Mother M. 
Hyacinth, with 24 pupils. In September, 1888, the kin- 
dergarten of the Holy Rosary was added to the institu- 
tion. The original number of pupils at the academy was 
24; the present number is 175; the original number in 
the kindergarten was 18; now it is 50. 

1881. On August 4, 1881, the Rev. Ignatius M. Del- 
veaux, now pastor of the parish of St. Boniface, opened 
St. Mary's Parochial School, at Obernburgh, Sullivan County, 
with Sisters of St. Dominic as teachers, and 65 pupils. 
Since his pastorate many families have left the village, 
and the present number of pupils is only 40. 

1881. On September i, 1881, the Rev. Daniel J. Cor- 
kery opened at Amenia, Dutchess County, the School of 
the Immaculate Conception. He gave it in charge of one 
secular teacher, with 60 pupils. The present number of 
pupils is 50. 

1881. On January 10, 1881, the Rev. Denis Paul 
O'Flynn, later a Very Rev. Vicar Forane, and now Rev. 
Missionary Rector of old St. Joseph's on Sixth Avenue, 
opened St. Mary's School, it Saugerties, with 210 pupils, and 
Sisters of Charity as teachers. The present number of 
pupils is 178. 

1883. In May, 1883, the Rev. Brother Justin, Provin- 
cial, founded St. Joseph's Institute at Amawalk, N, Y., as a 
novitiate for the Brothers of the Christian Schools. " It 
was opened by the Most Rev. Michael A. Corrigan, 
Archbishop of New York, assisted by a number of the 
Rev. Clergy, and the principal Brothers of the New 
York district." Originally only 35, the present number 
of students at Amawalk is 93. The Rev. Brother Noah 
and the Rev. Brother Peter, both connected with St. 
Joseph's Institute as instructors, have merited well of 
Catholic education — the former by an excellent pedago- 
gical work, the latter by a work on botany. 

1883. In September, 1883, the Brothers of the Chris- 
tian Schools opened, without any special ceremony, the 



44 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

Academy of the Sacred Heart at Classon-on-the-Sound. The 
pupils, numbering in the beginning only 20, are now no. 

1883. To the same year, 1883, are we indebted for the 
estabHshment in New York of one of its noblest institu- 
tions, the Cathedral Parish School. It was opened on Sep- 
tember 15, without ceremony, by the late Right Rev. 
Monsignor William Quinn, for many years the beloved 
Vicar-General of the great diocese. He gave his chil- 
dren to the care of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, 
who were to be assisted by secular teachers, and to the 
Sisters of Charity, who were to be similarly assisted. 
The school began with 820 pupils ; but under the zealous 
administration of the Rev. M. J. Lavelle, the first succes- 
sor of Monsignor Quinn as pastor of the Cathedral 
Parish, the school has almost doubled, numbering now 
no fewer than 1550 pupils. It is, as it ought to be, the 
model school of the diocese ; for Father Lavelle spares 
neither trouble nor expense to make it such. 

1884. On the 8th of September, 1884, the Feast of Our 
Blessed Lady's birth, the late Rev. Henry P. Baxter 
offered the Holy Sacrifice, addressed his future pupils 
and their parents on the subject of Catholic education 
(Mother M. Jerome, Superioress of the Sisters of Charity, 
being present), and then formally opened St. Peter's 
Parochial School at Haverstraw, with five Sisters of 
Charity and 441 pupils. During the same day, that 
saintly lover of children. Father Drumgoole, made a 
special visitation of St. Peter's School. At present the 
number of pupils is 274, and the teachers are only four 
Sisters of Charity. I may remark here also that, al- 
though the Rev. Father Baxter was the builder of the 
present schoolhouse, yet he is not entitled to the credit 
of having been the first to care for the Catholic education 
of children in St. Peter's parish ; for a parish school 
had been maintained there during many years by one of 
his Reverend predecessors. About the name of this 



EDUCA riONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 45 

predecessor, and the precise date of the establishment of 
his school, I am not informed. 

1885. On October 31, 1885, the late Very Rev. Patrick 
Egan, V.F., established at North Tarrytown, on the 
Hudson, the Parochial School of St. Theresa, with no pupils, 
whom he confided to the Sisters of St. Francis. The 
school remains to-day under these Sisters, and the num- 
ber of the pupils has increased to 170. 

1886. On September 6, 1886, without any ceremony, 
the Ursuline Convent at Middletown, N. Y., was established, 
with Ursuline Nuns as teachers, and 40 pupils. At present 
the pupils number only 33. 

1886. In September, 1886, the Fathers of the Com- 
munity of St. Paul the Apostle opened St. Paul's Primary 
School for boys, with 300 pupils, whom they gave in charge 
of secular teachers. They had not yet either the space 
or the means to provide also a school for girls. But 
early in 1891 they issued a letter to their parishioners 
announcing their intention to build a school at once on a 
site already procured in West Sixtieth Street. The con- 
templated edifice was to be 114 feet front, 60 feet deep, 
and five stories high. On July 4, 1891, all was ready 
for the laying of the corner-stone. " The exercises of 
the day were opened by a grand military parade of the 
St. Paul's Temperance Cadets. ... St. Paul's choir, as- 
sisted by the Spalding Literary Union, children of the 
school, and the Musical Union, . . . sang the ' Star-Span- 
gled Banner.' The platform was decorated with flowers 
and bunting, and under an awning in the centre were the 
speakers of the da)', surrounded by the altar and choir- 
boys in their red and purple cassocks." Those speakers 
were the Rev. Father Brady, C.S.P., the Hon. Morgan 
J. O'Brien, General James R. O'Beirne, and the Right 
Rev. Monsignor John M. Farley, V.G., upon whom also, 
devolved the honor of laying the corner-stone. An im- 
mense assemblage, including prominent members of the 
Board of Education, listened with deep interest and evi- 



46 BRIEF CHRONOLO<JICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

dent approval to the various addresses, of which the 
most remarkable was that of New York's Vicar-General. 
For the Right Rev. gentleman, not content with demon- 
strating the importance of Catholic training, demonstrated 
also that the Catholic laity of New York are so thor- 
oughly convinced of its importance that, besides doing 
as much as others for the public schools, the}' sustain lOO 
parochial schools, for upwards of 30,000 children, at an 
annual expense of more than $250,000. 

Since St. Paul's School was placed under the direc- 
tion of the Rev. Thomas McMillan, C.S.P., it has pros- 
pered admirably. Thus far no Religious have been in- 
troduced as teachers. The work is well done, however, 
by the 17 secular teachers, who have, in 1894, 926 pupils. 

1886. On September 8, 1886, the Festival of the Na- 
tivity of Mary, the Rev. John C. Henry established St. 
Mary's Parish Schools in Newburg, N. Y., giving about 200 
children to the pious care of the Sisters of St. Dominic. 
The 200 pupils have increased, and at present the Sisters 
educate about 250. 

1886. On January 28, 1886, Mother St. Gabriel (nee 
Anna Isabel Darragh), born in New York in 1827, 
established the Academy of Ville Marie, in the parish of St. 
Jean Baptiste, with teachers from the " Congregation de 
Notre Dame, Montreal," and only 6 pupils. This number 
of pupils has grown considerably, being now 150. The 
same Mother St. Gabriel must have been a great friend 
of Catholic education; for, besides having been the 
foundress of " Ville Marie " in New York City, she was 
also the foundress of St. Denis's Academy in Montreal, 
and she died Superioress of the Convent at Waterbury, 
Conn., on May 20, 1887. 

1887. On the first Monday of September, 1887, the 
Rev. Charles H. Colton, pastor, quietly opened St. 
Stephen's Parochial Schools. He met and welcomed the 
Sisters of Charity and their assistant secular teachers, 
and the 70 pupils who presented themselves on the open- 



EDUCATIONAL INSriTUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 4/ 

ing day, — met, and welcomed, and blessed them. B}^ the 
end of the first week St. Stephen's numbered 170; by the 
end of the first year, 350 pupils. Now that number is no 
less than 760, and the pastor and founder of St. Stephen's 
Schools is tireless in his efforts for their perfection. 

1887. On Monday, September 19, 1887, the Rev. 
Frederick Henn, C.SS.R., after having offered Holy 
Mass for its success, opened the School of Our Lady of Per- 
petual Help in East Sixty-first Street, for Bohemian chil- 
dren of the city. It was at once placed under the School 
Sisters of Notre Dame. The pupils, numbering at first 
onl}' 71, are now 310. 

1888. In September, 1888, the late Rev. William J. 
Dunphy opened the Parochial School of St. John at White 
Plains, in a new building which he had erected during 
the preceding spring and summer. The school, from 
the beginning under the Sisters of Charity, numbers 255 
pupils. 

1888. On September 9, 1888, the Rev. Richard L. 
Burtsell, S.T.D., after offering the Holy Sacrifice in 
presence of about 250 children, with their parents and 
guardians, made solemn procession to the splendid 
schoolhouse which he had erected in honor of the 
mystery of the Epiphany. After addresses to the 
assemblage by himself and the Rev. Dr. P. F. McSweeny, 
Dr. Burtsell formally opened the Epiphany Parochial School, 
and placed it under the care of the Sisters of Charity. 
The present number of pupils is 600. It is worth}^ of 
record that, soon after his appointment in 1869, the 
founder of Epiphany parish opened and for about three 
years conducted a parochial school with secular teachers. 
This he was forced to suspend because of lack of means. 

1888. In September, 1888, the Very Rev. M. D. Lilly, 
O. P., opened the School of St. Vincent Ferrer, in the fine new 
building in East Sixty-fifth Street. The Sisters of St. 
Dominic were placed in charge of the 625 pupils. This 



48 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

number has grown to 750, and the Sisters are aided by 
two secular teacliers. 

The principal of St. Vincent Ferrer's School is the 
Rev. Joseph H. Slinger, O.P., who takes a deep and en- 
lightened interest in all educational matters, and is one of 
the pioneers in the practice of making the stereopticon 
serve as an ordinary means for imparting instruction to 
the young. 

1888. On November 25, 1888, the Most Rev. Arch- 
bishop Corrigan, attended by the Very Rev. Deans 
Mooney and Egan, and a goodly number of priests, 
blessed the new schoolhouse of St. Matthew at Hastings, 
which had lately been completed by the Rev. David 
O'Connor, for more than thirty years the pastor of 
Hastings and Dobbs Ferry. The school, with 75 pupils, 
was placed under the Sisters of St. Francis. It numbers 
now 106 pupils. 

1889. On September 2, 1889, the Rev. John P. Mc 
Clancy opened St. Joseph's School at Middletown, with 200 
pupils, and the Ursuline Nuns as teachers. The present 
number of pupils is 214. 

1889. On November 6, 1889, the New York Sisters ot 
Charity opened St. Francis Xaviers Academy at Nassau of 
the Bahamas, with 5 pupils. The number of pupils now is 
22. The zealous Sisters have also taken up the work of 
maintaining three free schools for the colored children of 
the islands, and have now nearly 300 pupils. 

1889. On November 26, 1889, the Sisters of Mercy 
opened the Academy of St. Catherine of Genoa at One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-second Street and the West Boulevard, 
with 7 pupils. Now they have 83 pupils. 

1890. On September 4, 1890, having offered the Mass 
of the Holy Ghost and made a suitable address to his 
parishioners, the Rev. JoHn J. Gleason blessed St. Peter's 
School at Rosendale, and confided it with 231 pupils to the 
care of five Sisters of Charity. The pupils number now 
236. 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 49 

1890. In September, 1890, the Rev. P. J. O'Meara 
opened St. John's School at Piermont on the Hudson, with 
107 pupils, under the Sisters of the Third Order of St. 
Dominic. Himself a teacher of experience, he aided the 
the Sisters in the work of teaching until failing health 
warned him to desist. St. John's pupils in 1894 are 70 
in number. A numerous and flourishing school had been 
founded here in 1859 or i860, by the Rev. Father Quinn, 
first pastor. 

1890. On September 14, 1890, the Most Rev. Arch- 
bishop Corrigan, in presence of most of the cit}^ pastors 
and of a large congregation, assembled in Holy Cross 
Church, pronounced a discourse on Catholic education. 
Then, accompanied by the clergy and people, he solemnly 
blessed the new and beautiful schoolhouse of the Holy Cross, 
which the Rev. Charles McCready, LL.D., M.R., had 
erected and furnished in the preceding year. The next 
day, Monday, September 15, Father McCready opened his 
school to 780 pupils, with the Sisters of Charity in charge 
and several secular teachers. 

In the second year of its existence the number of 
pupils had increased to more than 1000. A slight decline 
is noticeable during 1894. To what cause the decline 
may be due, I cannot say ; for there is in New York no 
better building, nor a more skilfully managed school. 
There are 21 teachers; namely, 7 Sisters of Charity and 
14 seculars. 

1890. On September 15, 1890, the Rev. M. Carmody, 
P.S.M., having previously blessed the schoolhouse of Our 
Lady of Mount Carmel, assisted by the clergy of the parish, 
and attended by a large concourse of parishioners, 
opened the school to 85 pupils. Of these the Italian 
children were placed in charge of the Sisters of the 
Pious Society of Missions, the rest in charge of secular 
teachers. The present number of pupils is 400. The 
building is an ornament to the upper eastern section of 
the city. 



50 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

1890. On April 14, 1890, the Rev. Patrick Mee offered 
the Holy Sacrifice in presence of 235 children and some 
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, in his parish 
church of St. Patrick at Verplanck, N. Y. After Mass, the 
Sisters and children walked in procession to the new 
schoolhouse which the Rev. pastor had provided, and 
school was at once begun. The present number of 
pupils is only 150, the "hard times" having diminished 
the congregation of St. Patrick's, — let us hope only 
temporaril3\ 

1892. In September, 1892, the Rev. Frederick Tetreau 
opened the School of St. Jean Baptiste, East Seventy-sixth 
Street, in a splendid schoolhouse, which he had erected 
in 1 891. Previously a school had been conducted for 
several years in the basement of the church, the boys in 
charge of seculars, the girls in charge of the Sisters of 
Notre Dame from Montreal. The present number of 
pupils is 276. The Boys' Department is in charge of the 
Marist Brothers, a congregation founded some sixty 
years ago in Lyons, France, expressl}' for the purpose 
of teaching in parochial schools. The Girls' Department 
continues under the Sisters of Notre Dame and three 
secular teachers. 

1892. In March, 1892, the Very Rev. Joseph F. 
Mooney, V.G., opened in a commodious, pleasant, well- 
furnished building, the Sacred Heart School for Girls in West 
Fifty-seventh Street. He placed it in charge of three 
Sisters of Charity and several secular teachers. These 
still continue to guide the pupils, who, in 1892 number- 
ing 300, in 1894 number nearly 600 — exactly, 586. 

1892. On September i, 1892, St. Jerome's Academy, East 
One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Street, was opened by 
the Rev. John Hughes to 60 pupils, who were given in 
charge of the Ursuline Nuns. The present number of 
pupils is no. 

1892. In September, 1892. the Rev. James L. Crosby 
opened St. Ann's School at Nyack to 80 pupils, who were 



EDUCA riONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 5 1 

given in charge of the Sisters of Charity. The present 
number of pupils is 95. 

1892. On September 6, 1892, the Rev. John B. Cree- 
den opened St. Augustine^s Parochial School at Sing Sing, 
with 205 pupils, in charge of the Sisters of Charity. 

The pastor, surprised and delighted at the large at- 
tendance, and realizing the insufficiency of the accommo- 
dations, at once set about making an addition to the 
building, which was completed within three months. 
On Thanksgiving Day, 1892, the school was thrown open 
for public inspection, and an address was made to the 
throng of visitors by the Rev. John Edwards, pastor of 
the Immaculate Conception Church in East Fourteenth 
Street. The school has now 320 pupils. 

1892. On June 12, 1892, the Most Rev. Archbishop 
Corrigan, in presence of many of the clergy and a great 
number of people, laid the corner-stone of St. Agnes's 
Parochial School, in East Forty-fourth Street. On this 
occasion the Very Rev. Joseph F. Mooney, V.G. and 
Chancellor, preached on the subject of education. 

On June 11, 1893, the finished building was solemnly 
blessed by the Most Rev. Archbishop, attended by many 
of his clergy. On this occasion the Archbishop himself 
preached to a large assemblage. 

On September 11, 1893, St. Agnes's Parochial School 
was opened by the Rev. Henry A. Brann, D.D., its 
founder, builder, and pastor, to 987 pupils, with seven 
Sisters of Charity and five secular teachers. The school 
is one of the most perfectly appointed in the city. 

1893. In January, 1893, the handsome schoolhouse of 
Our Lady Clueen of Angels, East One Hundred and Twelfth 
Street, was opened by the Rev. Capuchin Fathers, to 290 
children, in charge of the Sisters of St. Agnes and 
one secular teacher. The present number of children 
is 370. 

A school had been existing in the parish since Septem- 
ber, 1886, having begun with onl}' 60 pupils. The classes 



52 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

were held in some old cottages, which were removed to 
make room for the present magnificent edifice. 

1893. In September, 1893, the Very Rev. Father 
Bonaventura Frey, O.M.Cap., already the founder of two 
schools of the diocese, opened his third school — that of 
the Sacred Heart — in Yonkers, with Sisters of St. Agnes as 
teachers and about 60 pupils. 

1893. During 1893 the Rev. Edward J. McGinley, 
pastor, erected a fine schoolhouse in Cannon Street for the 
parish of St. Rose of Lima, The school will not begin 
until next September. 

About the opening of the following educational insti- 
tutions of the diocese I have been unable to procure exact 
information. Therefore^ I shall have to rest content with 
giving their names, and the numbers of the pupils to whom 
their benefits are extended. 

St. Jerome's Parochial School at One Hundred and Thirty- 
seventh Street and Alexander Avenue, one of the oldest 
of our New York schools, was founded by the Rev. John 
J. Hughes, soon after his appointment to the pastorate of 
St. Jerome's, which was made in 1859. The school has 
550 pupils under 5 Ursuline Nuns and 10 secular teachers. 

The Sacred Heart Academy in West Seventeenth Street 
was established probably about 1868 by the Religious of 
the Sacred Heart. It has 112 students. 

The Sacred Heart Academy at Madison Avenue and Fifty- 
fourth Street is also under the Religious of the Sacred 
Heart. It was opened, probably, not long after the 
dedication of the new Cathedral, and has now 85 stu- 
dents. 

All Saints' Academy, established by the Rev. James W. 
Power and the Sisters of Charity, probably between 1880 
and 1890, has 90 pupils. 

St. Augustine's Academy, Franklin Avenue, is under the 
Sisters of Charity and has 61 pupils. It was founded, 
probably, by the Rev. M. A. Nolan subsequent to 1877. 



ED UCA TIONA L INS TITUTIONS IN NE W YORK. 5 3 

St, Cecilia's Academy, East One Hundred and Sixth 
Street, is under the Sisters of Mercy and has 150 pupils. 
It was founded subsequent to 1884, by the Rev. M. J. 
Phelan and the Sisters of Mercy. 

The Dominican Academy in West Thirtieth Street is 
under the Sisters of St. Dominic and has 30 pupils. 

St. Joseph's Academy at Bathgate Avenue and One Hun- 
dred and Seventy-seventh Street, was founded by the 
Sisters of Charity and has 71 pupils. 

St. Mary's Academy, Rondout, is under the Sisters of 
Charity and has 48 pupils. 

Mt. St. Mary's Academy, Gidney Avenue, Newburg, is 
under the Sisters of St. Dominic and has 79 pupils. 

St. Patrick's Academy, Grand Street, Newburg, is under 
the Sisters of Charity and has 35 pupils. 

St. Peter's Academy, at 16 Barclay Street, is under the 
Sisters of Charity and has 30 pupils. It must have a ripe 
old age. 

St. Peter's Academy, New Brighton, S. I., established by 
the Sisters of Charity, probably in the late sixties, has 85 
pupils. 

St. Peter's Parochial School, New Brighton, S. I., is under 
the Sisters of Charity, with 304 pupils. It is one of the 
oldest schools in the diocese. The founder was probably 
the Rev. Mark Murph}^ who became pastor of St. Peter's 
in 1848, after the death from ship fever of his heroic 
predecessor, the Rev. Patrick Murphy. The original 
number of pupils was about 100. From the beginning 
it was under the Sisters of Charity, who instructed all 
except the larger boys, for whom there was a school- 
master. 

The School of the Most Precious Blood in Baxter Street 
was founded by the Rev. Nicholas Russo, S.J., for the 
children of Italians. The present number of pupils is 
104, who are taught by seculars. 

The School of Our Lady of Mercy, Fordham, was founded 
by the Jesuit Fathers of St. John's College and the Ursu- 



54 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

line Nuns of Westchester. The number of pupils is 
104. 

The School of the Most Holy Trinity, at Mamaroneck, 
was founded by the Rev. Isidore Meister, who gave it in 
charge of the Sisters of Charity. It has 120 pupils. 
. St. Vincent's School, on the grounds of Mt. St. Vincent 
Academy, is a foundation by the Sisters of Charity 
for the children of the neighborhood. It has 107 
pupils. 

St. Joachim's School, at Matteawan, with 255 pupils, is 
under the Sisters of Charity. 

St. James's School, Mt. Vernon, is under the Sisters of 
St. Dominic, with 41 pupils. 

St. Peter's Schools, Poughkeepsie, are among the oldest 
in the diocese. The}' were founded probably about 1850, 
by the Rev. Michael Riordan, who was then pastor. 
They are attended by 563 pupils, in charge of the Sisters 
of Charity and secular teachers. 

The School of Our Lady of Mercy, at Portchester, has 225 
pupils in charge of the Sisters of Charity. 

St. Peter's School, Rondout, has 180 pupils in charge of 
the Sisters of Christian Charity. 

St. Sylvia's School, at Tivoli, has 44 pupils under the 
Sisters of Charity. 

St. Patrick's Schools, Newburg, are under the Christian 
Brothers and the Sisters of Charity, with 735 pupils. 

St. Stanislaus's School for Polish children, at Forsyth 
and Stanton streets, has 65 pupils in charge of two secular 
teachers. It was established by the Rev. John KHmecki. 

St. Valentine's School, Williamsbridge, also for Polish 
children, has 91 pupils, under one secular teacher. This 
also was established by the Rev. Father KHmecki. 

In the foregoing sketch no notice has been taken of 
any but purely educational institutions. Besides those 
mentioned here, there are in the diocese many other in- 
stitutions, — such, for example, as the Catholic Protectory, 



EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW YORK. 55 

the Orphan Asylums, and the Mission of the Immaculate 
Virgin, — in which the destitute, the homeless, and the way- 
ward receive in addition to other benefits that greatest 
one of a true Catholic education. 

From all this it is clear that the Catholics of New 
York take a deep, practical interest in the education of 
childhood and youth. In the parochial schools alone 
they have invested considerably more than five millions 
of dollars ; and, as we have remarked already, they main- 
tain these schools at an annual expense of more than a 
quarter of a million. To the amount thus expended and 
invested in the cause of gratuitous education add the far 
greater amount expended and invested in such institutions 
as St. John's, Manhattan, St. Francis Xavier's, the Sacred 
Heart x\cadem3^ Mt. St. Vincent, and the other collegiate 
and academic schools, and you will see that the Catholics 
of this diocese must spend on education every year more 
than a million of dollars, while their investment in insti- 
tutions for education must run far into the tens of millions. 
Is not this an immense outlay — an outlay too as foolish 
as it is immense? Well, no ; for, you see, we get in return 
precisely what we want in the way of education. The 
education afforded by the N. Y. University, the N. Y. 
College, Union, Columbia, Vassar, the Normal College, 
and the public schools, — all eminently respectable insti- 
tutions, — is not exactly of the form and color and tone 
that meet the requirements of Catholic taste in the article 
of education. Therefore we do not take your article, no 
matter how eloquently you pronounce its eulogy ; but, 
knowing what we want far better than you, or than the 
Albany legislature, or than the Board of Education, we 
go where we can get what we want. Are we to be cen- 
sured for this ? Pshaw ! As well might you censure a 
man for having his clothing made to order because he 
cannot be suited in the stores where ready-made gar- 
ments are exposed for sale. *' Well, well, then," you say 
to us, '* have your schools, multiply them, govern them, 



56 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

pay for them, but don't imagine that we will ever exempt 
you from contributing your full share in support of the 
schools that suit us and that, as we think, ought to suit 
vou." Now I know two or three American citizens who 
are dissatisfied with that "don't." Strange, isn't it? 
But it is true, nevertheless; and I have heard one of 
them say that the State's action towards us in this matter 
is ver}'' like the action of a proprietor of a store for the 
sale of ready-made clothing who, finding it impossible to 
satisfy his customers, locked his doors, marshalled his 
clerks about the customers, and forced them, as a condi- 
tion of peace and freedom, to pay the price of the suits 
that they neither wanted nor would take away. But that 
man is a little impetuous and choleric. I suppose he does 
not reason correctly. As for the rest of us, why we are 
just bursting with pride because we are permitted to aid 
in the support of an educational system which so well 
suits everybody except ourselves and a few highly intelli- 
gent but ultra-religious non-Catholics! We, or rather 
our successors in religion and citizenship, will feel awfully 
humiliated when, at last, perhaps in the thirtieth centur}-, 
the State will deprive them of their unique, peculiar, and 
glorious privilege of paying millions for what they do 
not want, — of making tremendous sacrifices for the State 
even in "the piping times of peace." 



a. /ID. s). (5. 



ED UCA TIONA L INS TITUTIONS IN NE W YORK. 5 7 



NOTE. 

SCHOOL OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER. 

From information received recently from the Rev. 
Father William Tewes, C.SS.R., the present rector, I 
am able to give a more extended account of the educa- 
tional institutions of the parish of the Most Holy Re- 
deemer, which this year celebrates its golden jubilee. 

As already stated, the Rev. Gabriel Rumpler, C.SS.R., 
was the founder of the parochial school of the Most 
Holy Redeemer, which he opened in the old church, in 
1844, with about one hundred children, two class-rooms, 
and two secular teachers of the elementary branches. In 
his holy zeal the Father reserved to himself the task of 
teaching Christian doctrine to the little ones. 

The Catholics of the parish having rapidly increased 
in number, Father Rumpler decided to erect a suitable 
schoolhouse. His parishioners aided him so generously 
that he had a substantial three-story building all ready 
for school purposes by the 20th of September, 1846. 
The secular teachers were retained and the sessions of 
the school were held on the first floor of the building, 
the upper part serving as a dwelling for the priests and 
brothers. The school must of right be classed among 
free schools, for, although there was a small monthl}^ 
educational tax levied on the parents, neither the children 
of those who could not nor of those who would not pay 
— and they were many — were ever sent away from the 
school. The Fathers would not permit the innocent 
children to suffer because of the negligence or poverty 
of the parents. 



58 BRIEF CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF CATHOLIC 

Father Joseph Miiller, during the second year of his 
pastorate, namely, in November, 1853, introduced as 
teachers for the girls' department the School Sisters 
of Notre Dame from Milwaukee. Then, too, he increased 
the number of classes and teachers in both departments, 
and raised the grade of the school. During this year the 
whole number of pupils was 800. This number grew 
rapidly greater; the old schoolhouse was at last too 
small, and Father Joseph Helmpracht, the best beloved 
and least likely to be forgotten of all the pastors of this 
parish, resolved to remove the schoolhouse of Father 
Rumpler and erect one more commodious. His build- 
ing was finished and ready for use in 1858. It has been 
much improved and strengthened, and still serves for its 
original purpose. Meanwhile the grade of the school 
had been continually rising, until by i860 it was truly a 
grammar school ; and as not a few of the parents were 
quite willing to leave their boys at school after their 
graduation, it was decided to establish a high school 
for imparting instruction in English, German, French, 
Latin, Greek, natural philosophy, drawing, and the 
higher mathematics. To conduct this high school and 
the boys' department of the parochial school. Father 
Helmpracht asked for and obtained, in i860, the services 
of the Brothers of Mary from Dayton, O., a body of 
educators fully equipped and perfectly trained for their 
life-work. The number of the pupils continued steadily 
to increase, so that before 1870 it was evident to the 
Fathers that their school accommodations must be further 
enlarged. Accordingly in 1872-3, during the pastorate of 
the Rev. Joseph Wirth, the Fathers expended about 
$100,000 in the purchase of property and the erection 
thereon of a new schoolhouse for the boys' department. 
On Sunday, November 16, 1873, the Rev. Father Cronen- 
berg, assisted by the other clergymen of the parish, 
solemnly blessed this building in presence of an immense 
congregation, the address on the occasion bemg made by 



ED UCA TIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NE W YORK. 59 

the eloquent Father Wissel. Between 1873 and 1880 the 
attendance at the schools was 1200 and more. Since 1880 
there has been a steady decline. Now the whole number 
of pupils is 683, under six Sisters oi Notre Dame and four 
Brothers of the Christian Schools, by whom the Brothers 
of Mary were succeeded in 1888. 



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